Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-01-21

upon the taxpayers 100 SrleVOuS 10 Ue
borne?
Our various charitable institutions are
urgently demanding increased appropria-
tons to provide for greater numbers of
these unfortunate people. And some
twenty or more of our hei etofore most
prosperous counties have suffered t, ON
disastrous drought, and the citizens
thereof are in dire distress and are not
only unable to meet the justd emsnds upon
thee: as taxpayers, but their unfortunate
condition appeals loudly for governmental
aid IN some shape, to secure them from
absolute starvation; and | know L but
voice the common sentiment that this
unfortunate people should have some
measure of consideration and relief and
that they should not be permitted to suf
fer the pangs of hunger and restitution
by reason of failures which no human
precaution could have guarded against.
We should by all means strive to keep
the appropriations within the range of
the amount of revenue derived from pres
ent rates of taxation.
And desirable as it is to confine all
convicts within the walls, we must deal
with facts as they are, not as we would
have them. Convicts should not be kept
in idleness at the expense OF honest peO-
pie, but sqould contribute by labor at
least to their own support.
would respectfully suggest that we
| foster and encourage, as far as practi-
cable, the industries already established
in our penitentiaries, so as to make
them self-supporting, and gradually,
without imposing too heavy burdens
upon the people, establish and con-
st-uct additional prisons with other in
dustries, until the state can take care of
all prisoners undergoing punishment.
And as a proper Inauguration of this pur-
pose an industrial school for youthful
criminals has become an urgent necessity,
and should not be longer delayed, and
this will require considerable eXpendl-
ture OF public money in addition to the
annual current expenses of the govern
ment. Such an institution would immedi-
ately relieve our prisons of some 400 or
more of this class,a thereby make room
for the same number of older convicts.
There seems to be some public demand
that short term convicts should be placed
at work on the public roads under the
supervision and direction of county au-
thorities, and at the expense of such coun-
ties for which the labor is performed.
The constitution seems to sanction the
experiment if it does not command it,and
N following its behests we may be able
thereby not only to provide useful
labor for 8 great number of conviCts,
but at the same time to solve an
other difficulty tending to cause
public discomfort, to-wit: the inequality
of road duty, as imposed by present laws.
1t might be well, therefore, for your hon.
orable bodies TO take into consideration
the ACCESSIBILITY of making the experiment.
| can readily foresee some serious diff
Culties in the practical execution OF the
system, but its success would go far IN
furnishing i solution to very serious pub
lie questions, which result, or hope
thereof, would fully justify the expert
ment.
In addition to this, if it be found that
our financial condition will admit of the
necessary appropriation, would recon-
mend the purchase of additional state
farms for the utilization of portion of
the unskilled labor peculiarly adapted to
fam work and unfit for almost
any other purpose as convicts. 1t
may be seen by reference to the
report of the financial agent, while the
: labor within the walls has hardly proven
seIf-supporting, the labor worked on
farms and otherwise on the outside of the
walls contributed in large measure by
their products to the support of those
within the walls, and has at the same
, time, after deductlng the losses on share
farms, yielded the state net profit Of
1922 ,G6l.13. The exc.s of convicts
which cannot by some such method be
provided for should be put at such LABOR
as may least conflict with honest free
labor.
THE PUBLIC LANDS.
have already taken occasion in my in
| augural address to refer to certain princi
/ Piles which should govern US in the man.
, agement and disposition of oul
school and other public lands which
need not be repeated. The declaration
of principles and policies sanctioned
. by the people at the recent election de-
! mands of those charged with the making
and the execution of the laws that these
, lands should be sold to actual settlers
: And until thus sold even agricultural
lands should be tempora lily leased, while
the grazing lands should be leased uncon
( ditlonally for short terms. The obliga-
tions thus assumed will require at The
, hands of your honorable bodies a careful
revision of our laws governing these mat
tiers and reconcilement of economic pol
+ icies which have been found thoroughly
antagonistic by other countries which
have attempted the experiment under
t similar conditions. And our own expe-
| perience in later years sdmonish you tC
caution IN your deliberations and enact
ments if you would avoid confusion anC
, perhaps failure.
1t occurs to me that your first duty
r should be to provide by law for thor
: ough and exact classification of these
! lands so as to enable the officer or au
' THIRTY charged with their management
and their utilization to be informed of tn;
character and value OF the land or AM
particular tract sought by the purchaser
: The state should adopt in some mannel
: the business methods and principles 0
: individual owners, who generally TAX
care 10 inform themselves of the condi
r ton, advantages and quality of thei
/ lands before accepting an offer of pur
, chase.
. Without such information the state vii
/ always be at disadvantage in dealin!
with purchasers, which disadvantage can
not be overcome by fixing by law an alb
solute or arbitrary valuation to diff
: ferent classes of public lands with
out regard to their situation or 10
, cality. After their classification
e and minimum valuation has been deter